Garden Faucet Leaking? A New Washer Usually Does It
A dripping spigot is usually a worn washer or loose packing, not a dead faucet. Tighten first, then rebuild it with a repair kit.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read
- Time
- 30 min
- Cost
- Under $20
- Difficulty
- Medium
In this guide
Quick answer
Where the water comes out tells you what to fix. A leak around the handle means loose or worn packing. A drip from the spout when the faucet is off means a worn stem washer. Tighten the packing nut a quarter turn first. If that fails, shut off the water and swap the washers and packing with a repair kit.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Tighten the packing nut
- Find where the water comes from: handle, spout or hose end
- Turn the packing nut a quarter turn with a wrench
- Do not overtighten; the handle should still turn easily
- A leak at the hose end needs a new hose washer instead
How long it lasts: A few weeks to a season for a handle leak. It does nothing for a drip from the spout.
An outdoor faucet repair kit
The leaking parts are cheap rubber and packing pieces that wear out. A repair kit replaces the stem washer, packing washer and O-ring, so the faucet seals again without a new faucet body.
What to get: Outdoor faucet repair kit
How long it lasts: Years, until the rubber wears again. It replaces the parts that actually leak.
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What you'll need
-
Adjustable wrench
For the packing nut and the stem
You have it -
Screwdriver
For the handle screw and the washer screw
You have it -
Bucket and old towel
To catch water when you drain the line
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Outdoor faucet repair kit
Stem washers, packing, O-rings and screws; match to your old parts
- Illustration
Replacement hose bib
Only if the body is cracked, corroded or a quarter-turn type
Why it happens
Worn packing around the stem
A packing washer or graphite string seals the stem where it passes through the handle end. As it wears, water seeps out around the handle when the faucet is on.
A worn stem washer
A rubber washer at the end of the stem presses on the seat to shut the water off. When it hardens or wears, the faucet drips from the spout even when closed.
A worn or pitted seat
If the metal seat the washer presses on is rough, a new washer wears out quickly. This is the one cause a kit cannot fix.
Freeze damage
Water frozen in the faucet can crack the body or split a frost-free stem. This often shows up as a leak the next spring.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Find where it leaks
Dry the faucet, open it and watch. Water at the handle is the packing. A drip from the spout when closed is the stem washer. A drip at the hose end is the hose washer.
-
Tighten the packing nut
Tool used: Adjustable wrenchTurn the nut just under the handle about a quarter turn clockwise. You can do this with the water on. Stop if the handle gets hard to turn.
-
Shut off the water
Tool used: Bucket and old towelIf it still leaks, close the shutoff valve for the outdoor faucet, often in the basement or crawlspace. If there is no valve, use the main shutoff. Open the faucet to drain it.
-
Take the faucet apart
Tool used: ScrewdriverRemove the handle screw and the handle, then unscrew the packing nut and pull out the stem. Photograph the order of the parts as you go.
-
Replace the washer, packing and O-ring
Tool used: Outdoor faucet repair kitRemove the screw at the end of the stem and fit a washer of the same size and shape. Replace the packing washer or wrap new packing around the stem, and swap the O-ring if there is one.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Outdoor faucet repair kit · Stem washers, packing, O-rings and screws; match to your old parts
-
Reassemble and test
Put the parts back in order, snug the packing nut and turn the water on slowly. Check for drips with the faucet open and closed.
When free fixes aren't enough
If tightening the nut does nothing, or the spout drips when the faucet is off, parts inside are worn and need replacing. A kit costs a few dollars and handles both. It will not help if the handle turns only a quarter turn, since that is a ball-valve faucet that gets replaced, not rebuilt. A cracked body or corrosion where the faucet meets the pipe also needs a new faucet. If water leaks inside the wall, ceiling or basement near the pipe, close the shutoff and call a plumber.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Outdoor faucet repair kit | a drip from the spout or a leak around the handle | Anyone with a standard hose faucet that turns several full turns to close. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Replacement hose bib | a cracked, corroded or worn-out faucet body | Owners whose faucet keeps leaking after a rebuild, or whose body is cracked or corroded. | Check price |
Outdoor faucet repair kit
Fixes: a drip from the spout or a leak around the handle
Look for: Several washer sizes, so one matches your stem; Packing washers or packing string for the handle leak; O-rings and replacement screws included; A fit list that names the faucet types it works with.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a standard hose faucet that turns several full turns to close.
- Honest downside
- The handle turns only a quarter turn, or the body is cracked or corroded. Replace the faucet.
Replacement hose bib
Fixes: a cracked, corroded or worn-out faucet body
Look for: The same length and pipe connection as your current faucet; A frost-free design if your winters freeze; A solid brass body.
- Who it's for
- Owners whose faucet keeps leaking after a rebuild, or whose body is cracked or corroded.
- Honest downside
- The faucet is soldered to copper pipe and you do not solder. Hire a plumber for that.
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How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on plumbing repair guides, faucet makers' instructions, and the problems and fixes owners report in reviews of repair kits. We do not test products by hand.
Which type of faucet do you have?
- Standard compression faucet: the handle turns several times to open and close. A repair kit fits this type.
- Quarter-turn ball valve: the handle turns a quarter of the way. Replace the faucet; kits do not fit.
- Frost-free faucet: a long body runs into the wall. A kit with a long stem fits some of these. Match the model first.
What to skip
Cranking the handle shut harder
Forcing the handle tighter to stop a spout drip grinds the washer into the seat and wears both. If the faucet will not stop dripping, replace the washer instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my outdoor faucet dripping when it is turned off?
Why does water leak around the handle when the faucet is on?
Do I need to shut off the water to fix a garden faucet?
How do I know if my faucet is frost-free?
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